VOTE shifts to season 2

Ruwini Jayawardana

Citi Hitz, Sri Lanka’s first pay television channel dedicated to cinema which launched VOTE, a program targeted at recognizing and encouraging the creativity within youths towards making short films, launched its second season at a ceremony held at the National Film Corporation on May 15. Chairman of Onair World Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd., Nimal Laksshapathiarachchi, along with many veterans in the field were present to witness the ten winning short films by the young directors and encourage them in their efforts.

The ten directors who emerged through VOTE season one were Dinithi Jayasekara, Iresh Lokubandara, Dinushka Wattegama, Geethani Seneviratne, Bimal Dushmantha, Nilan Chaminda Meegamage, Thisara Thulwan, Dinuka Thimantha and Upali Gamlath. Short films embodying a variety of themes, from the prevailing conflict to social bonds were taken up and examined by the youths through their lens and brought to light on screen.

Dinithi Jayasekara who had titled her creation as Aganthuka Puthraya had directed documentaries based on Ven. Uda Kanidavala Siri Saranankara. Aganthuka Puthraya was a project she did for her university degree at the University of Kelaniya.

Iresh Lokubandara who presented ‘Laugh’ had looked at society in a sarcastic angle. He had even won an award at the Talent University, India, for his creation. He also directed Hansa Geethaya a popular teledrama which unspooled on ITN. He is engaged in directing documentaries and advertisements. Dinushka Watthegama’s short film, ‘The Miracle’, marks his debut effort at short filmmaking.

He is a product of the Puttnam School of Film, Singapore, and is employed as a programs director. ‘The Miracle’ was the official selection for the Youth New Wave Film Festival 2008, Sri Lanka. It explores the bond and human emotions which take over a young Sri Lankan nurse when a patient, another Sri Lankan, makes a plea from her.

W.M. Geethani Seneviratne, the creator of Samma Ditti, had taken up the Nisco Video course at the National Youth Services. She works as an assistant director on television advertisements and had won a number of accolades for her work. Her creation portrays a certain incident which is faced by a street child.

Sudu Sihina is the creation of Bimal Dushmantha who is directing programs creating awardenss on AIDS. He also works as a art director for music videos, teledramas and films.Sudu Sihina is a cross between the subject close to his heart as well as a product which displays his power of creation.

Nalin Chaminda Meemanage’s Sapaththu Kuttama is a touching tale which displays the uncertainty of human life. He creates programs for the Presidential Media Unit and had been a part of the crew for international productions like ‘Water’ and ‘Mother Theresa’.

He was also a member of the team which produces local films and Indian advertisements and had worked in a couple of local productions. In addition he is a freelance journalist.

Nimiththa by Thisara Thuwan, a camera director by profession, portrays the emotions which a child undergoes as a result of an incident which had taken place eight years ago.

He had won the award for the best local short film at the Youth New Trend Film Festival (2008).

Dinuka Thimantha had been directing short films for a couple of years on diverse topics.

He had also taken up a course on television creations and a course on program directing at the Teleview company Ltd.

His creation Mahaththayo is based on a just individual who faces a destructed world full of crooks and criminals.

Dumriya Ena Thuru, is Upali Gamlath’s creation. It is a tragic story of a child who pines to see a train and follows its tracks only to end up in the clutches of the LTTE.

Upali is a producer at the National Youth Council. He had been working as a script writer, director, cameraman and an editor on television programs since 1994. His documentaries have won national and international accolades.